A total of 192 motorcyclists died in road accidents between the years of 2014 and 2023, according to the Finnish Crash Data Institute (OTI).
More than one-third of the motorcyclists that caused those accidents were under the influence of at least one substance, while more than half were driving too fast. Nine of the victims were passengers, while the remainder were driving motorcycles.
"Thirty five percent of the motorcyclists who were at fault in the crashes were intoxicated. Intoxicants increase the chances of driving errors and losing control of motorcycles," the OTI's traffic safety researcher Niina Sihvola said in a press release on Friday.
According to the report, most fatal motorcycle accidents involved driving off of the road at high speed, often preceded by a steering error or not following proper driving lines.
Speed a major factor
More than half of the motorcyclists who caused the accidents were driving too fast, with 43 percent driving at least 30 km/h over the speed limit.
"High speed impairs a driver's ability to control their motorbike," Sihvola said, adding that speeding also makes it more difficult for drivers to keep their eyes on the road and reduces reaction times.
"The consequences of high speed collisions are often serious," Sihvola said.
The report noted that 51 percent of the fatal motorcycle accidents during 2014-2023 were head-on collisions. According to accident investigation assessments, 62 percent of the fatal motorbike crashes were caused by the motorcycle drivers. Nearly half (49%) were single-vehicle crashes that did not involve anyone but the drivers. Meanwhile, 14 of the fatal accidents involved wildlife on the roads.
At the same time, drivers of other vehicles were at fault in 38 of the fatal crashes over that period. Such accidents typically involved another vehicle turning in front of an approaching motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction, or at intersections. Those accidents were often caused by drivers in other vehicles not noticing the motorcycles.
